Being a good Christian, how many times should we forgive?

Question

A man comes up to your wife and rapes her. His adult children beat up your elementary school children and you now incur very large medical bills. His friends are "having a good time" and in the process their gang of 100 rapes your daughter and kills your three brother-in-laws, who witnessed the event.

Somehow, the police didn't want to prosecute, secretly on the grounds of race, and rape was a way of life in your home country, where all of this took place.

As a Christian should you forgive these people or try to use the law to have them punished?

Say, ten years later, you've lost your job because people no longer wanted to do business with you. Should you forgive your attackers?

You are unemployed and jailed for trespass, you were one someone else's property and you were framed.

The most honorable judge in the entire land judged against you and allowed false testimony to be entered into the records as fact. From a reading of the records any common man can see the judge's error.

You were framed by many people in high places and didn't have any money to pay for the services of a attorney. Do you now forgive these people after losing your job, wife, and children as well as living as a poor person for the last 15 years?

You the rich man has lost all that you had. You pray to God sincerely for the next 15 years and your condition gets worst and not better.

Exactly how many people are tested to this extent and how many people truly know what going through experiences like this is like?

You remain with your faith in God, you've lost everything and this condition remains for over 15 years and you have little or no friends or supporters. Almost everyone throws dirt at you as society's way of getting rid of you.

Can Americans expect China to turn to the true god and are Christian religions preaching God's word in China doing it correctly?

Would Chinese be better off as atheist or should Christians try to convert them to the Christian faith?

I would really like to

know your thoughts with regard to these questions and with regard to the true sincerity of Christians in America.

End

Answer 1

Luke 23 (King James Version)

Luke 23

1And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Answer 2

"As a Christian should you forgive these people or try to use the law to have them punished?"

So forgiving someone means they are no longer accountable for their actions? Or that the laws suddenly don't count anymore? C'mon... forgiveness has nothing to do with the law, or the fate of the person who wronged you. It's something that happens in your heart. If they rot in jail or receive the death penalty, it's because THEY chose to commit those awful crimes. There can always be forgiveness.

Answer 3

a million. God will continuously forgive you, whatever proportion circumstances you sin. 2. ^^ 4. God will forgive you anyhow. 6. No, God won't punish you. No Karma. 7. you would be forgiven. And by ability of how, all sins are equivalent, notwithstanding in case you're telling a white lie or murdering somebody. 8. God loves you. He would not punish you that way. it is approximately love, no longer punishment. God is forgiving and merciful.

Answer 4

You are asking about two very different types of forgiveness here.

The first type of forgiveness is the type where the one whom has wronged you has come to you repentant and asks your forgiveness.
The bible states we are to grant this forgiveness as many times as the person is willing to repent and ask for it. IT is the type of forgiveness that God grants us on a daily , if not more often basis.

The next type of forgiveness is the type where the tormentor did not ask for this forgiveness. THis type of forgiveness is the type that you grant to yourself on behalf of the tormentor.

Now, this does not mean that you stay in this situation if you have any means at all of getting out of it. Abused women need to forgive their abusers, but at the same time they need to make very sure that they get as far away from the abusive situation as possible.

This type of forgiveness is the forgiveness that God gave to us by the crucifixion and resurection of Jesus Christ.
We never asked for this "taking of the punishment", but God loved and loves us, so he granted this forgivness.
This type of forgiveness was for God, and it can also be for us, but we have to ask for it. Just because salvation is free, does not mean that you do not have to ask for it.

Answer 5

"Being a good christian" requires that you forgive all the above. When His disciples ask the question," how many times should we forgive 7 times". Jesus replied," not 7 time ,but 70 times 7." And I personally believe that He wasn't giving a set number of times to forgive, but was saying to continue to forgive indefinitely.

Answer 6

Keep Loving Jesus He will give you the strength you need to get by(He said if some 1 strikes you on 1 cheek turn the other also & if some 1takes your cloak give him your coat also) Luke 6:29 vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord He will repay

Answer 7

As many times as needed

Answer 8

What did Jesus do? The Christian way is to follow his example.

Answer 9

Upon true repentance, unlimited.

Answer 10

I think it depends on whom, or what needs forgiveness, cheers.

Answer 11

book of Job anyone?